FAMILIES can be trusted to spend the new Schoolkids’ Bonus, which has been delivered to more than 10,000 families’ bank accounts over the next fortnight, federal Labor candidate for Bendigo Lisa Chesters says.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Each year eligible families will receive up to $410 for each primary school student and $820 a year for each high school student in two instalments at the start of January and July.
The bonus will appear in the bank accounts of all families that receive fortnightly Family Tax Benefit payments.
Under the old Education Tax Refund, families had to collect receipts at tax time to receive the Schoolkids’ Bonus.
Ms Chesters said the changes would save time for families and cut down on paperwork.
“We are trusting families do the right thing and spend it on school supplies,” she said.
“What we find is families on tight budgets will put education first.”
Castlemaine resident Alex McLean, whose six-year-old son is beginning grade 1 this year, said the money would go towards her son, but may not necessarily go straight to school expenses.
“I can’t guarantee it will go specifically on my son’s uniform straight away.” She said the money was a welcome benefit at this time of year.
“Christmas has been (expensive) and there are also lots of expenses with school,” she said.
“I like that it’s in a big payment because if you need to make an expensive purchase like a computer then you have that option because it’s in a lump payment.”